The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon The Pikes Peak Ascent is a 13.4 mile run from downtown Manitou Springs, Colorado, 6280 feet above sea level, to the top of Pikes Peak, at 14,110 feet. This is followed the next day by the Pikes Peak Marathon, a 26.3 mile round trip run. I entered both races, ostensively so that I could drop one once I got to Colorado Springs and saw what the course was like. I only told a few people of my secret plan to run both races. Naturally, they thought I was insane. When I ran them both, I don't think I changed anyone's opinion. I wasn't sure what to expect on Pike's Peak. I read about pulmonary edema and cerebral edema, both fatal, caused by prolonged exposure to high altitude. I was assured by past participants that these wouldn't be a problem for someone in good shape who stayed well hydrated and only went up for a few hours. The local papers carried stories of people killed in mountain climbing accidents: rock slides, hypothermia, falling off cliffs. Last year a runner in the Ascent died of a heart attack. But the biggest risk would be the unpredictable weather, with sudden thunderstorms, freezing rain, fierce winds, and hail possible. I trained for Pikes Peak like any marathon, running 15 miles per week while competing in triathlons every weekend. I did do some occasional hill workouts on the Melbourne Causeway, figuring that 50 feet above sea level was better than nothing. (I live in Florida where it's hot, humid, and flat) I got all my real hill training during two weeks of hiking and biking in the Appalachians six weeks before the race. My one long run was the Grandfather Mountain Marathon, which I did in 3:36, slower than last year by 4 minutes. Joan and I flew out to Colorado for a week of altitude training before the races. (She came to bike, not run). While she was riding on the prairies of Wyoming, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, I wanted to climb every mountain in sight. I hardly did any running, though. My longest run was one mile of steep grassy hills down Sheep Mountain, Wyoming on the first day of our trip that left my quads sore for two days. Altitude affects everyone differently. Joan found running difficult at 9000 feet and never ventured higher. I had my first problems at 13,000 feet when I drove up Pike's Peak a few days before the race. I pulled over to the side of the dirt road and, climbing a small 50 foot hill, I felt winded and faint, like all the blood was rushing to my head. Joan described the feeling of "red-outs" that she had when skiing years ago. I had a headache that lasted several hours after returning to low altitude (6000 feet). It takes 10 to 14 days of altitude to overcome mountain sickness and three months to produce the extra red blood cells needed to race effectively. Nevertheless, I got as much adaption as I could in a week. I walked across snow fields in August at Medicine Bow Pass at 10,800 feet. I got lost in the bizarre rock formations of the Garden of the Gods. I hiked ten miles up Gold Hill, New Mexico to 12,700 feet, where a bull blocked my way for a tense minute. I climbed the Rio Grande Gorge, the 80% grades of the Great Sand Dunes, and hiked through a ghost town on Mount Princeton at 11,000 feet, all in one day. On Thursday I picked up my two race packets, and on the spur of the moment I bought a two-bottle trail running Ultimate fanny pack and a pair of Nike Air Skylons to wear in the races. I had planned to wear Pegasus, but the Skylons were lighter and just as comfortable. They didn't have size 13, so I took 12's. THE ASCENT. The race reached its limit of 1750 runners two weeks ago. There were two waves, starting 30 minutes apart. The first mile was on roads, but steep enough to reduce most people to a walk. This was followed by steep narrow trails of dirt and fine gravel up 15-20% grades through the woods. There were a few level spots and downhills where you could actually run. The six aid stations (supplied by helicopter) had water, Gatorade, and hard candy (plus an unofficial beer stop thanks to the Hash House Harriers). At ten miles and 12,000 feet, the trees disappeared and the trail became very steep and rocky with frequent switchbacks. I started in the first wave thanks to my predicted ascent time of 3:20 (based on my flat marathon time and a little optimism). I neglected to account for the fact that the average runner in this race lives above 6000 feet and near mountain trails. My actual finish time of 4:40 was in the slowest 20% overall and would not have won any age group for men under 80 or women under 60. I lost a few minutes stopping to take pictures and eat cookies, but I simply was not prepared for the altitude. The last three miles and 2000 feet took two hours. I was glad I arranged for a drop bag with long pants, sweat shirt, hat, and mittens at the top. I wore shorts and a T-shirt at the start, and as the temperature dropped from 60 degrees to 40, I put on a windbreaker at the tree line. An hour after the finish while waiting for the bus ride down, the sunny weather turned to a light freezing rain. THE MARATHON. The Ascent was hard on the lungs but gentle on the legs. After carbo-loading, I was ready to go again. This time I left the camera behind and took some peanut butter and banana sandwiches as well as cookies. Again, I walked all the way up and stopped twice to sit down and eat. I was slower at the middle altitudes, but I finally figured out how to breathe above the timberline. It's like this: walk slowly, inhale on your left foot, exhale on the right. Take deep breaths. At sea level, you would quickly hyperventilate and get dizzy, but this won't happen at altitude. I had to consciously force myself to breath fast and deep; it did not happen naturally. When I did this, I started passing people, but I still reached the top in 4:41, one minute slower. After I turned around, air was no longer a problem. The trail was very narrow, so uphill walkers had to move aside for downhill runners. I started passing downhill runners as well, yelling "coming by" so they could move to the side and let me pass. During my 2:01 descent I passed about 100 runners and was not passed by anyone. I thought that was pretty good until I learned that Matt Carpenter ran UP in 2:01 (a course record by 4 minutes) on his way to win in 3:16 (a course record by 7 minutes). It was incredible to watch him glide over the boulder strewn trail at a 5 minute/mile pace, dropping 1 to 2 feet with every step. Running down was an incredible thrill, and not nearly as hard as I thought. I just "let off the brakes" and ran at a 5:30-8:00 pace, depending on the slope, except on the few uphills and very rugged spots. But with 4 miles to go, I stopped to remove a sharp stone that was digging into my left heel. Only there was no stone. A blister as large as a half dollar had broken open. (Next time, I'll wear socks). I ran in increasing pain, and as the dry air rose to 80 degrees, I neglected to drink enough water. I finished in 6:42, middle of the pack, barely able to walk. For the next two hours, I could not take a full breath without coughing, a feeling I remember as a child after swimming all day. The medical staff bandaged my blister, but it would be 10 days before I could stand on it without pain. What really amazed me, though, was that my muscles were only slightly sore, nothing like after a flat marathon. It seemed the loose dirt and gravel on the trail allowed my foot to slide with each step, absorbing most of the impact. Would I do it again? The area is beautiful, but I'm already thinking of greater challenges. On the plane ride home, by pure chance, I sat next to Robert Solorio of Palm Beach, who won the Titusville 12 hour track run last year where I came in third. He had just run the Leadville 100 mile trail run the same weekend in a little over 28 hours. Pikes Peak Ascent, 13.4 miles, Manitou Springs (6280 ft) to Pikes Peak (14,110 ft), rocky trails, Aug. 21, 1993. Overall winners: Scott W. Elliott, Boulder CO, 2:13:39 J'ne M. Day-Lucore, Denver CO, 2:43:51 Florida finishers (with age group place): Jon Braasch, 33 M, Orange Park, 4:36:04, 162/192 Matt Mahoney, 38 M, Melbourne, 4:39:57, 181/218 Loren Bayless, 33 F, Cooper City, 5:24:21, 77/92 Pamela Dotterrer, 38 F, Palm Beach, 5:29:31, 76/81 Thomas Bayless, 46 M, Cooper City, 5:33:55, 126/134 Cynthia L. Roberty, 37 F, Tampa, 5:57:02, 86/91 Bill Harvey, 58 M, Ft. Myers, 6:27:43, 35/37 John W. Hampton, 78 M, Jacksonville, 7:13:14, 4/4, (last overall) Finishers: 1088 M, 459 F. 1750 starters. Pikes Peak Marathon, 26.3 miles, ascent and return, Aug. 22, 1993. Overall winners: Matt Carpenter, 29 M, Colorado Springs CO, 3:16:39 (course record, was 3:23, won by 25 minutes) Karen E. Gorman, 26 F, Gunnison CO, 4:42:03 Florida: Matt Mahoney, 38 M, Melbourne, 6:42:30, 70/101 Paul Richard Parker, 52 M, Lynn Haven, 6:44:56, 22/45 Mike K. Reynolds, 45 M, Zephyrhills, 6:52:45, 37/76 Fred C. Reynolds, 50 M, Jacksonville, 7:08:59, 29/45 Robert T. Lahort, 34 M, Panama City, 9:14:52, 73/73 Kenneth K. Lowman, 37 M, Gainesville, DNF Finishers within 9:30 cutoff: 495 M, 109 F. 750 starters. -------------------------------- _\/_ Matt Mahoney, mvm@epg.harris.com |(TV)| Drug of the Nation #include |____|